The so-called Wolf Management Bill sponsored by Sen. Allen Christensen will effectively outlaw wolves from the state of Utah by sidestepping the protections of the Endangered Species Act – placing the burden of wolf management on the federal government. Management in this case means removing the wolves from the state.

The main points of the bill are outlined below:

This bill:

– defines terms;
– makes legislative findings and declarations concerning the wolf;
– provides for the Division of Wildlife Resources to request federal removal of wolves found within areas of the state where the wolf is listed as endangered or threatened;
– requires the division to manage the wolf to avoid the establishment of a viable pack of wolves within the areas of the state where the wolf is not listed as endangered or threatened;
– allows the division to make administrative rules concerning the management of wolves; and
– makes technical changes.

The bill has now entered enrollment, which is the step prior to reaching the desk of the governor. It will be the process of implementing any wording changes agreed on by the various legislative committees and approved by the House and Senate.